Previously, Oppo had shared teasers and posters online regarding its upcoming second generation of Reno smartphones. It is a bold move considering the first iteration have been on the shelf for barely four months. We had covered multiple reports that shed some light regarding the upcoming series and now finally have confirmation for the Reno 2. In a surprising move, Oppo has revealed key features regarding the smartphone in a media statement.
Revealed Specs
Oppo Reno 2 will feature a 6.55 inch FHD+ AMOLED Panoramic display. The display has an aspect ratio of 20:9 with a 93.1% screen to body ratio. Its high ratio is achieved due to the front having no notches with minimum bezels owing to the shark-fin popup selfie camera. Notably, the device will have an in-display fingerprint scanner for security. The front of the smartphone is protected with Corning Gorilla Glass 6 while the back has Gorilla Glass 5. Oppo Reno 2 features Qualcomm’s Snapdragon 730G coupled with 8GB of RAM and a massive 256GB of internal storage.
Oppo Reno With Shark Fin Popup Camera
For gaming, the company is offering anti-cheat extensions and promises up to 25% bump in graphical performance. It also supports HDR10 Gaming support and Game Assistant among other functions. Oppo has revealed that the device will be powered by a large 4,000mAh battery which will support 20W VOOC 3.0 fast charging via a USB Type-C port. Additionally, the company also revealed more features such as Frame Boost 2.0, Touch Boost 2.0 and Link Boost. These will help aid connectivity and overall user experience of the customers.
What Else To Expect
Oppo is yet to confirm a lot of the finer details regarding the Reno 2. For example, the camera of the device will undoubtedly be one of its highlighting features. Hence, the company has probably intentionally left out the details for its launch announcement. However, the sensors are most likely to be a 48MP primary, 8MP wide angle lens, 2MP depth and a 13MP telephoto lens with 2x optical zoom. Notably, the telephoto lens will capable of 20x hybrid zoom.
Oppo Reno 2 series is also rumoured to feature two more devices which are expected to be announced alongside the Reno 2. The smartphone is expected to launch in India in two colours, Ocean Blue and Luminous Black. For more information stay tuned for updates that should arrive at or prior to the launch event.
Apple is about to launch the highly anticipated iPhone 11 lineup which allegedly consists of three devices like last year, 2. Several rumours about the design and features of the upcoming handsets have leaked in the past. Interested readers can read them here (1,2,3).
According to freshly listed cases on the MobileFun website, Apple will finally embrace a stylus for its smartphones. Apart from the triple rear cameras that the upcoming flagship iPhones are reported to have, this could be one of the biggest addition to one of the world’s most popular smartphone since its debut in the year 2007.
Apple iPhone 11 Case With Stylus
Noteworthy, the late Apple co-founder, Steve Jobs in the past had mocked companies like Microsoft who showcased the touch capabilities of Windows via a Stylus. Nonetheless, as previously seen with the latest generation iPad Pro, the possibility of Apple launching a smaller sized stylus or an Apple pencil for the iPhone could turn out true.
Besides, the listing does not reveal any other specifics of the stylus. Though as observed with the iPad Pro, it is assumed to be magnetically connected to the rear of the upcoming iPhone.
Apple iPhone 11 Mockup
As the device is currently unannounced, we can only make assumptions about the features it would offer. Similar to the newly launched S-Pen for the Galaxy Note 10, it might have a physical button which could toggle the camera shutter. Moreover, it might support air gesture to navigate between apps or switch between the front or rear camera.
To sum things up, the probability of Apple making a compact Pencil/stylus for iPhone 11 lineup are quite high. However, in order to confirm the leaks and rumours, we will have to wait for the official launch event. Going by past experiences, the future iPhone will be unveiled in the second week of September which is just around the corner.
What do you think about Apple launching a stylus for smartphones? Do you think they offer any practical benefits or it is just a gimmick? Let us know in the comments below.
Redmi, the Xiaomi subsidiary, has seen massive success across the Asian market with its smartphone offerings. The company was founded to penetrate markets with affordable devices that carried noteworthy specs. It holds true even in India where its Note series devices are one of the annual best selling smartphones. Now, its latest entry in the series, Note 8 and Note 8 Pro, have some of its rumours confirmed.
Alleged Note 8 Pro
Redmi Note 8 Series
Previously, we had reported on the Redmi Note 8 Pro sporting the gaming centric SoC named Helio G90T. But, the company has now confirmed that the entire Note 8 series will sport the new chipset. The MediaTek mobile CPU was announced back in July which a Redmi executive confirmed will be featured on an upcoming smartphone soon. Although the name wasn’t announced back then rumours had already pointed towards the new Note 8 series.
What We Know So Far
Earlier this month, we had also covered reports that have since been confirmed. The Redmi Note 8 Pro will feature a quad camera setup with a primary sensor being a 64MP camera. On the other hand, the base Note 8 will probably feature a 48MP sensor. The 64MP shooter on the Note 8 Pro is also confirmed to be Samsung’s ISOCELL GW1 sensor. The device will be one of the first to feature the newly unveiled camera module from the South Korean giant alongside Realme XT.
It is yet to be confirmed if the Note 8 series will house a fingerprint sensor on the back or an in-display scanner under an AMOLED panel. Furthermore, it is rumoured that NFC connectivity will finally arrive to the mid-range devices. Unfortunately, finer details like RAM, storage and other features are still a mystery so we will have to wait for an official announcement. The device will be unveiled on 29th August 2019 so stay tuned for more updates.
Chinese smartphone maker Xiaomi launched the first smartphone under its flagship MIX series back in 2016. Dubbed the Mi MIX, the device is believed to have kickstarted the modern trend of a bezel-less display in handsets. The series has since seen generation refreshes in the subsequent year, with the latest Mi MIX 3 being launched in 2018. Now, fresh reports claim that the company is ready for its successor, as the purported Mi MIX 4 is scheduled to launch next month with top-end specifications.
Mi MIX 4
Mi MIX 3
A post on the Chinese social media website Weibo has surfaced which claims to reveal key specifications of the upcoming Mi MIX 4. It has been mentioned in the post that the smartphone will have a curved 2K display. Exact size is not mentioned, but it is believed that the handset will have a bezel-less display; just like its predecessors and may employ a pop-up selfie camera or the front camera under the display to achieve it. Since its a flagship device, the leak also claims it will run on the latest 7nm Snapdragon 855+ SoC announced a few weeks ago. The chipset is comprised of an Octa-core CPU and an overclocked Adreno 640 GPU.
In terms of optics, the leak claims the Mi MIX 4 will have a quad camera setup. While it has been known that the primary lens will be a 108MP Samsung HMX sensor, announced a while ago. The secondary and tertiary lens will be a 16MP ultrawide and a 12MP lens. One of the main attractions will be the fourth sensor, which is rumoured to use a periscope mechanism to provide advanced zooming capabilities.
Mi MIX 2S
To ensure high speeds on the forthcoming Mi MIX 4, the leak claims it will support UFS 3.0 storage, like the Galaxy Note 10 series and the OnePlus 7 Pro. For memory and storage, the device may feature up to 12GB of RAM and internal storage of up to a whopping 1TB in capacity. The handset is claimed to be powered by a 4500mAh battery with support for 30W fast wired charging. Like the latest Samsung and Huawei flagship smartphones, the upcoming Xiaomi Mi MIX 4 will also support reverse wireless charging. To top it all off, the device may also very well be the first Xiaomi handset to run on the upcoming MIUI 11, which is speculated to deliver an improved user experience.
While the leaked specifications of the Xiaomi Mi MIX 4 are in line with a top tier flagship smartphone in 2019, it is recommended to take the leak with a grain of salt. Since the information arrives from a new source, it may very well be false. However, in the case it turns out to be true, the Mi MIX 4 has the potential to be one of the best flagship smartphones of the year. The device launches next month according to the source, so we may not have to wait too long to confirm our suspicions.
Except for smartphones and televisions, Xiaomi offers a wide variety of products ranging from electric scooters to shavers. The company has freshly announced a Digital Drawing tablet under its Mijia brand which is currently being crowdfunded in China.
The new device is developed to reduce paper waste and is aimed towards replacing a conventional paper notebook which cannot be reused.
Xiaomi Mijia Digital Drawing Tablet Features
The new device is offered in two different screen sizes which include 10-inch and 13.5-inch. While the former weighs just 195 g, the latter is a considerably hefty and it weighs 345 g. Just to clarify, they don’t feature a conventional display found on smartphones instead it has an LCD made out of ABS which can only show one colour that is green.
Noteworthy, both models of the Mijia LCD Blackboard have a display that does not emit any sort of blue light which can lead to visual fatigue during prolonged usage. Therefore, they make an appropriate choice of children who are starting to learn drawing and writing.
Equally important, they ship with a plastic stylus that resembles a pencil and they have a circular button in the bottom bezel which can be used to clear the illustrations or writings on the display.
Both the variants of the Mijia drawing tablet are powered by a button cell which can easily be replaced once they have been exhausted. Notably, Xiaomi claims that it can provide a backup of 365 days if the clear function is used 100 times every day.
As previously mentioned, both the variants are currently offered on a crowdfunding website that is operated by Xiaomi. The price of the two variants is as follows:
10 inch- CNY 49 (around Rs 500)
13.5 inch- CNY 79 (around Rs 800)
What are your thoughts on the latest offerings from Xiaomi? Would you buy it the company launches them in India? Let us know in the comments below.
Korean electronics giant Samsung unveiled its first foldable smartphone, the Galaxy Fold back in the month of February. While the device was claimed to be ready for prime time, just before its launch, problems with its durability started surfacing online. Due to this, the company had to recall the review units of the handsets and postponed the Galaxy Fold’s launch date to several months. While the world is still waiting to see the smartphone in action, latest patent filings by Samsung reveal it is ready with another foldable handset, the latest of which folds both ways.
Samsung Foldable Smartphone Patents
Samsung filed a patent back in the month of January this year at the United States Patent and Trademark Office (USPTO). It was for a foldable device and the method for controlling it. The patent was finally published on the 8th of August and has been included in the World Intellectual Property Office (WIPO) database, which means that Samsung holds the right to the patent worldwide. Noteworthy, it is just a utility patent and not a design one. This suggests that the design aspects provided by the source can still change. That being said, the design reflected in the renders of the Samsung Galaxy Foldable handset has a bi-directional slide mechanism. This is like the Motorola Razr foldable device concept renders, with the addition of the latest one being able to fold in both directions.
The patents and the image provided in it also indicate a single camera cutout on the back. The hinge or the mechanism that makes the folding possible is a huge strip on the middle of the device. This reminds of the hinge present on the Royole FlexPai, the world’s first foldable smartphone. As the patent images show that the Samsung handset can be folded both sides, this would make it easier to protect the display, thus increasing durability. While it is not certain when the dual foldable smartphone will hit the markets if at all, but if it does see the light of the day, it looks like a viable competitor to the likes of the Huawei Mate X and the Motorola Razr.
On 20th of August 2019, Realme unveiled its Realme 5 series of smartphones which will debut in India. The event saw details regarding the devices and gave us a slight glimpse of what to expect in the near future. Previously, we had reported about an upcoming Realme smartphone with 64MP quad camera setup. Now, it has been confirmed by the company that the device will be called Realme XT.
What To Expect
A 64MP Quad Camera Setup: Realme has already confirmed that the Realme XT will feature a quad camera setup with the primary camera being a 64MP sensor. Samsung launched the ISOCELL Bright GW1 sensor is the only sensor that fits the criteria. Hence, it is quite possible that Realme XT will feature this sensor. Unfortunately, it is not known what purpose the other three cameras serve. However, since Realme 5 Pro features an 8MP wide angle lens alongside a 2MP macro camera and 2MP depth sensor, similar sensors might also be found on the XT. Additionally, the smartphone may also house a popup selfie camera similar to its sibling, the Realme X.
Realme X Spiderman Edition
AMOLED Display: Earlier this year, Realme X was launched with a 6.53 inch AMOLED display. Furthermore, since the upcoming Realme XT is a beefed up variant of the same series, it is likely to sport an AMOLED panel. Notably, the company had teased a silhouette of the Realme XT which did not reveal a rear mounted fingerprint scanner. Thus, an in display sensor which is also present on the Realme X may make a reappearance.
Better Internals: The exact specifications of the Realme XT is currently a mystery. However, there is a high chance of it being a premium grade flagship smartphone. A Snapdragon 855+ device from Realme is expected to arrive soon and it might be the XT since Realme X was launched with Snapdragon 710 and was an upper mid range smartphone.
Realme XT is likely to be priced higher than existing members of the series. The reason for this is likely due to its bumped up camera specs and numbers alongside better internals. Lastly, the company had confirmed that the device will arrive right before Diwali. It means that we can expect a September-October launch date.
In the month of January, Xiaomi turned its Redmi smartphone lineup into a separate sub brand. Following the seperation, the first handset it launched was the Redmi Note 7. A couple of months after, it also launched the Pro variant of the smarpthone which has beefed up camera sensors and a better chipset.
Due to the value these handsets offer, they have become a global sensation. According to Xiaomi until now it has sold 20 million units of the Redmi Note 7 lineup worldwide which is a remarkable feat. A company official had previously revealed that the successors of these devices are in the pipeline.
Redmi Note 8 Pro Launch Date
On the 21st of August, the official Redmi account on the Chinese social media website, Weibo was populated with a teaser of the upcoming smartphone. According to which the Redmi Note 8 duo will be unveiled on the 29th of August which is just a week away.
The teaser also boasts of a ’64 MP’ camera sensor that the Pro variant will feature on the rear. In addition the rear panel also houses three additional camera sensors, an LED flash and a fingerprint scanner.
Redmi Note 8 Pro Features
Noteworthy, a real life image of the upcoming smartphone was already leaked online which had revealed its key specifications. The Redmi Note 8 Pro will feature the MediaTek Helio G90T SoC which was unveiled last month. Although the image is not very clear, the smartphone is expected to be powered by a 5,000 mAh battery that the alleged Redmi 8A will also have.
Details about the display of Redmi Note 8 lineup are currently unavailable but it is assumed to have a display atleast as big as it predecessor that features a 6.3 inch display.
In order to confirm all the leaks and rumours about the Redmi Note 8 lineup we will have to wait until its official launch which is set for the 29th of August.
Earlier this year, we had covered multiple reports regarding Motorola’s Razr foldable smartphone. The device is the successor to the original Razr flip phones and will seek to revive the iconic series. The thing that sets it apart from its past generation is the foldable display in the form factor of a flip phone. It was confirmed by the company that the device was under development and we now have reports claiming it will launch in December alongside alleged pricing.
Motorola Razr
Motorola Razr is a refresh to the legendary lineup of sleek and compact flip phones that were extremely popular almost a decade ago. However, the 2019 Razr brings in a lot more than just better hardware and OS. The key feature is most definitely its folding screen that allows the device to have a very small physical footprint. In other words, it is compact and is minute compared to the large smartphone like the Galaxy Note 10. The handset also houses a small secondary display which was also seen in the previous iterations. Notably, the images are seen so far only showcase a single camera being present on the device.
Motorola Razr 2019 is expected to arrive in Europe in December and will carry a hefty price tag of EUR 1,500 and USD 1,500 in the US. In Indian Rupee, it translates to the device being priced anywhere between INR 1,07,000 to INR 1,19,000. However, an Indian release has yet to be revealed. Furthermore, it is expected to be a mid-range smartphone with weaker specs in comparison to Galaxy Fold or Huawei Mate X but may still be more affordable than its competitors.
Xiaomi’s launched the latest iteration of its Android One Mi A series last month in Spain. Dubbed the Mi A3, it is a direct successor to the Mi A2 and by its extension the Mi A1. The series has been popular in India with users particularly enjoying the stock Android experience. Mi A3 seeks to deliver much of the same experience with mid-range hardware at a lucrative price tag.
Xiaomi Mi A3
Xiaomi Mi A3 makes a noticeable change in design aesthetics over its predecessors with its new 3D glass finish on the rear. It offers an attractive look with gradient colour accents changing reflection with the angle they are viewed from. On the front, Mi A3 features a 6.08-inch HD+ Super AMOLED display which is a downgrade from the previous iteration which had an FHD+ display.
For photography, the Mi A3 features a triple camera setup with the primary shooter being a 48MP sensor. The latter two are an 8MP ultra-wide lens alongside a 2MP depth sensor. On the front, a large 32MP sensor for selfies can be found on a waterdrop notch. Notably, the Mi A3 is the first in the series to house the fingerprint scanner under the display. Furthermore, the handset houses Qualcomm’s Snapdragon 665 SoC with Adreno 610 GPU. The chipset has an Octa-core CPU and the Adreno 610 GPU.
Xiaomi’s Mi A3 is powered by a large 4,030mAh battery which supports 18W fast charging, however, the fast charger needs to be bought separately, as the provided capacity in the retail box is limited to 10W. For connectivity, the smartphone offers Bluetooth 5.0, an IR Blaster, USB Type-C port, Dual 4G VoLTE and a 3.5mm headphone jack. The last feature was omitted in the Mi A2 much to the loyal users disliking. Additionally, Mi A3 is an Android One device which means it runs the latest Android 9 Pie and is guaranteed to receive two major updates and security updates for up to 3 years.
Xiaomi Mi A3 will be available from 12 pm (IST) on 23rd August 2019. It can be purchased from Amazon and on Xiaomi’s official website. The smartphone is expected to be available on offline stores soon after. It is offered in three colour variants, namely Kind of Grey, Not Just Blue and More Than White. The device is offered in two different memory and RAM configuration that is:
Oppo launched its Reno series of flagship and mid-range devices four months ago. Despite it being announced freshly, the series is already receiving a second-generation update. Previously, we had covered the official announcement and leak regarding three new upcoming Reno 2 series devices. Now, Oppo Reno 2 smartphone has its entire specifications leaked after it was spotted on a Chinese regulatory website TENAA.
Oppo Reno 2 Specs
Oppo Reno 2 is a direct successor to the original Reno smartphone, not to be confused by Reno 10x Zoom flagship which will remain the company’s top-end offering. The latest iteration is speculated to offer a noticeable improvement in most aspects at the announcement expected on 28th August. Similar to its predecessors, Reno 2 will also sport a “shark-fin” pop up selfie camera that will allow for a notchless display. The device may sport a 6.5 inch FHD+ (2,400 x 1080px) AMOLED display on the front.
Oppo Reno
The listing further reveals that it will be powered by a 3,915mAh battery and may be offered with up to 8GB of RAM. For internal storage, Reno 2 may be available in 2 configurations, 128GB or 256GB. Furthermore, the Chinese website lists of an undisclosed 2.2GHz octa-core processor. It is speculated to be the Qualcomm’s Snapdragon 730 SoC, an improvement over the Snapdragon 710 chipset found on the original Oppo Reno.
Camera
Oppo Reno 2 may also feature a quad-camera module on the rear that will be stacked vertically. The primary camera will be a 48MP shooter alongside three 13MP, 8MP and 2MP sensors respectively. It is assumed that at least one of the cameras is a depth sensor while others will be the 20x Zoom lens. However, Reno 2 may offer 2x optical zoom that allows for 5x hybrid zoom and the 20x digital zoom thereon unlike Reno 10x Zoom which has a 5x optical zoom along with 60x digital zoom. It suggests the upcoming devices do not employ the same periscope lens trick that its previous entry offered.
Oppo Reno 10x Zoom
Additionally, Oppo also shared another teaser that showcased a couple of new features for its Reno 2 series cameras. It includes Ultra Dark Mode, Ultra Steady Video and its 20x Zoom capabilities. Hence, Reno 2 is likely to use its multi-camera system to enhance low light imagery backed by image stabilization.
Oppo Reno 2 will be unveiled on 28th August 2019 and is expected to be priced around INR 35,000. It is currently unknown when the series will see a global launch but going by past reports, a UK, Australia and Asian launch can be expected to follow soon after.
Last year, Chinese smartphone maker OnePlus announced that it is ready to dive into the television business by launching an LED TV soon. A year has since passed and details about it started surfacing online. While it was known that the OnePlus TV will be launched this year, no exact date was revealed by the company. Until now, as a senior OnePlus executive has revealed that the device will be launched in the month of September and will be available exclusively in India initially.
OnePlus TV
In an official blog post on the 20th of August, the CEO and co-founder of OnePlus, Pete Lau has announced the latest details about the OnePlus TV. It has been confirmed that the upcoming television will be launched next month; i.e September. According to the company, the reason for it being exclusive to India at launch is that OnePlus has seen unprecedented success in India because of the community. To share that success, it is trying to bring its latest venture into the country first. The television will later be made available in other regions like North America, Europe and China.
Previous leaks have revealed the OnePlus TV will be an LED television and will be available in sizes ranging from 43 to 75 inches. It is rumoured to be a smart TV, which suggests it will run on an Operating System and will be capable of connecting to the Internet. While it is not confirmed, some reports claim the OnePlus TV will be unveiled on the 26th of September. Notably, this is the same day the OnePlus 7T Pro has been leaked to be shown off. Pricing and availability of both the devices remain in question, though we might not have to wait long to get those answered.
On the 20th of August, Realme launched two new smartphones which include the Realme 5 and Realme 5 Pro. As the name suggests, the latter is a beefed-up variant and it sports a better chipset and camera. Going by its pricing, the newly launched device competes against the Redmi Note 7 Pro which is one of the best value smartphones in this segment available in the country.
Both the handsets from Realme and Redmi have similar specs which make it difficult for the consumer to choose the best option. To help solve the dilemma we have laid out the different aspects of the Realme 5 Pro and the Redmi Note 7 Pro. Consequently, after reading the article you will determine which device suits your need and which one you should pick if you planning to buy a mid-ranger.
Design and Build
In terms of build, both the Redmi Note 7 Pro and the Realme 5 Pro have glass on the front and back which is held together with a polycarbonate chassis. The front of the two handsets have a waterdrop notch display which provides them with an elegant look.
The Redmi Note 7 Pro is offered in four colour variants which include Nebula Red, Neptune Blue, Space Black and Astro White. In contrast, the Realme 5 Pro is offered in two variants which include Crystal Green and Crystal Blue.
Based on our design preferences, we feel the holographic rear panel of the Realme 5 Pro looks more appealing therefore we give it the first round.
Display
Both the Redmi Note 7 Pro and the Realme 5 Pro are equipped with an LCD display that measures 6.3 inch. Moreover, the resolution of the display panel on the two smartphones is 409 ppi and they have an aspect ratio of 19.5:9.
While the former is safeguarded with Corning Gorilla Glass 5 the latter settles down with the Gorilla Glass 3. Due to better display protection, Redmi Note 7 Pro wins this round.
Battery
The Redmi Note 7 Pro is powered a 4,000 mAh battery that supports 18 W fast charging. On the other hand, the Realme 5 Pro has a slightly larger battery which has a capacity of 4,035 mAh and it also supports VOOC 3.0 technology.
The technology allows the smartphone to be charged with a maximum power of 20 W which is tad bid higher than the Note 7 Pro. However, the Realme 5 Pro ships with a 20 W compatible charger whereas its competitor is shipped with a 10 W charger. Slightly bigger battery and in-box fast charger make Realme’s offering take this round.
Chipset
Both the smartphones are kitted with Qualcomm chipsets. While the Realme 5 Pro packs the Snapdragon 712 SoC, the Redmi Note 7 Pro packs the Snapdragon 675 SoC.
Chipsets on both smartphones consist of Octa-Core CPU though they have disparate GPUs. The SD712 incorporates the Adreno 616 while the SD675 Adreno 612 GPU. Although we are yet to test the Realme’s offering, the performance that the two can churn out is expected to be comparable. Therefore, based on the assumptions this round results in a tie.
Other Features
Redmi Note 7 Pro
Connectivity options on the two smartphones are also heterogenous which include dual 4G VoLTE, 802.11 ac Wi-Fi, Bluetooth 5.0, 3.5 mm headphone jack and the bottom-mounted USB Type C port which can be used for charging and data transfer.
Both the Redmi Note 7 Pro and the Realme 5 Pro also have a rear-mounted fingerprint sensor which allows to rapidly and securely bypass the lock screen. However, one feature that only the former offers, is an IR blaster. Although not a huge deal breaker or deal maker, this feature can come in handy more often than not.
Just for the record, the inclusion of an infrared sensor makes the Note 7 Pro steer ahead of its competitor in this segment.
All in all, the two smartphones offer excellent value for money. The Redmi Note 7 Pro which was the most feature-laden smartphone at this price bracket six months ago.
Though due to a higher number of camera sensors, faster-charging support (along with fast charger) and a refreshing design we feel the Realme 5 Pro could be a better choice than the Redmi Note 7 Pro for a lot of consumers.
Realme once an Oppo subsidiary has quickly grown to become one of the top 10 smartphone OEMs in the world. On the 20th of August, it launched the highly anticipated Realme 5 and Realme 5 Pro in India. Both smartphones are mid-range devices but the Pro variant have comparativley bumped up specs.
Realme 5 & Realme 5 Pro
Both the Realme 5 and Realme 5 Pro have a crystal design on the rear panel which mimics a holographic effect. They feature a 6.3 inch FHD+ display with an impressive 90.6% screen to body ratio. The 16MP selfie camera is housed in the waterdrop notch on the front through which the high screen to body ratio is achieved. For security, the smartphone duo house a rear-mounted fingerprint scanner.
Under the hood, the Realme 5 houses the 11nm Snapdragon 665 AIE chipset which consists of an octa-core CPU alongside Adreno 610 GPU. On the other hand, the Realme 5 Pro features Qualcomm’s 10nm Snapdragon 712 SoC which also has an Octa-Core CPU along with Adreno 616 GPU. Both smartphones feature a quad-core camera which carries an 8MP ultra-wide-angle lens, 2MP depth sensor and 2MP macro camera. The Realme 5 sports a 12MP primary shooter while the Pro variant has a 48MP Sony IMX586 sensor.
The Realme 5 is powered by a large 5,000mAh battery while the 5 Pro houses a 4,035mAh battery. The latter supports the company’s VOOC 3.0 fast charging upto 20W with a compatible charger bundled in the box. Both smartphones feature a much-welcomed headphone jack and offer similar connectivity options that include Bluetooth 5.0, 802.11 ac Wi-Fi and dual 4G VoLTE. Both the smartphones run on ColorOS 6 which is based on top of the latest Android 9 Pie. According to the company, ColorOS 6 has a simplified UI as it draws a lot of inspiration from stock Android.
Price & Availability
The Realme 5 will be available from 12PM (IST) on the 27th August 2019. It will be purchasable on Flipkart and Realme’s official websites. The smartphone will be available offine soon after its official launch. It is offered in two colours, Crystal Blue and Crystal Purple, and will be available in three different RAM and ROM configurations:
Realme 5 Pro will arrive after the base variant and will be available from 12PM (IST) on 4th September 2019. The device will also be available on Flipkart and Realme’s official website. Again, offline sales are expected to arrive soon after. The device will be offered in two colours, Sparkling Blue and Crystal Green, and will be available in three different RAM and ROM configurations for which the price is as follows:
4 GB + 64 GB: Rs 13,999
6 GB + 64 GB: Rs 14,999
8 GB + 128 GB: Rs 16,999
Conclusively, both the smartphones are value for money offerings and will give handsets from Samsung, Xiaomi and other brands a good run for their money.
Last week, we detailed the TENAA listing of an unreleased Xiaomi Smartphone which was believed to be the Redmi 8. According to freshly leaked images, it is instead the Redmi 8A which will be targeted towards the budget segment. As the name suggests, it will succeed the Redmi 7A which debuted in the month of May in China and was later launched in India.
Although the strategy seems counterproductive to launch a successor in less than 6 months, we assume this could be due to rising competition from companies like Realme. Readers who do not know, the latter has already launched a multitude of handsets in over a year of its existence. Moreover, its latest lineup which consists of the Realme 5 and Realme 5 Pro will be unveiled on the 20th of August.
Xioami Redmi 8A Front and Back
As per the leaked images, the Redmi 8A features a waterdrop notch display on the front that has a high screen to body ratio. The rear of the device is made out of plastic and it accommodates the company branding and dual camera setup which is arranged vertically in a capsule-shaped ridge. Besides it also features a fingerprint sensor which is a welcoming addition.
While we have already talked about the detailed specifications of the Redmi 8a in this post. We will reiterate upon the features which according to us will make this budget smartphone stand out of the crowd.
Before we begin, it must be noted that these features will only stay relevant if Xiaomi manages to price the upcoming handset similar to the Redmi 7A. According to us, the pricing of the device should be around the Rs 6,500 mark for the base variant which is about Rs 500 expensive than the corresponding variant its preceding device.
Best Features of The Upcoming Redmi 8A
Xioami Redmi 8A Dual Camera & Fingerprint Sensor
Display: The Redmi 8A features a 6.3-inch HD+ display which is a significant upgrade over its predecessor that has a 5.45 inch panel. Moreover, it has a high screen to body ratio which is achieved due to the waterdrop notch present on top of the display.
Battery: A lot of customers that buy entry-level Android smartphones are migrating from feature phones while some buy them to use as a secondary handset. For both the scenarios, a large battery is important and 5,000 mAh battery found on the Redmi 8a can easily allow day-long backup. In fact, for most users, the battery will last for 2 days or even more.
Storage: Due to affordable internet plans, the consumption of digital media has also seen multi-fold growth all around the world. Although the maximum number of Android smartphones support memory expansion via microSD card, most users never bother to buy and install one. Therefore, storage as much as 64 GB on an entry-level smartphone is a great feature.
Fingerprint Sensor: In order to keep costs down whilst still providing a form of biometric verification, companies have opted to go with the face unlock feature which was even observed with the Redmi 7A. However, all of us know, the kind of reliability they offer. Therefore, the fingerprint sensor on the Redmi 8A is a great addition. As it is more reliable and at times easier to the use in situations like under-lit environments.
Xioami Redmi 8A UI In Spanish
The leaked images of the Redmi 8A exhibit the menus in the Spanish language. Consequently, it is expected to debut in Europe and later on make its way to India.
Even though Xiaomi has not officially revealed its launch date, the device is assumed to be unveiled at the upcoming event on 29th of August which will see the launch of Redmi Note 8 and a 70-inch Redmi branded TV.
To sum things up, the upcoming Redmi 8a holds the potential to become of the best selling smartphone in the budget segment. However, as previously mentioned, Xiaomi needs to retain an aggressive price to give it an edge over its competition.
What are your thoughts on the upcoming Redmi 8A, Which feature do you think is its biggest USP (Unique Selling Point)? Let us know in the comments below.
